Capable keepers share the points

Bolton (0) 0 Nottm Forest (0) 0
NOTTINGHAM FOREST will have derived the greatest satisfaction from taking a point at the Reebok Stadium last night, where they improved an already impressive away return against a hard-working Bolton.

By Peter Gardner

12:00AM BST 18 Oct 2000

Bolton (0) 0 Nottm Forest (0) 0NOTTINGHAM FOREST will have derived the greatest satisfaction from taking a point at the Reebok Stadium last night, where they improved an already impressive away return against a hard-working Bolton.

On a night of torrential rain, both sides created innumerable chances but the respective goalkeepers remained firmly in command of a game that remained entertaining despite the shortage of goals.

Forest had marginally the better of an opening half in which the Bolton goalkeeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen, sprang to the rescue with splendid saves to twice deny Jack Lester in a four-minute period of anxiety for the home side shortly before half-time.

Bolton, beaten only once in the League this season, revealed early intent, Bo Hansen heading narrowly over after just five minutes, while Michael Ricketts came close when stretching to try and turn in Gareth Farrelly's cross from the left.

Forest, 4-3 weekend winners at Barnsley, where they extended an impressive away run to four wins, responded with Christian Edwards heading just over and Andy Johnson firing a wicked 20-yarder inches over.

Alan Rogers, too, was close with an acute angled effort from the left that Jaaskelainen scooped off the line. The Bolton goalkeeper revealed equal alacrity to hold Lester's piercing close-in attempt before flinging himself high to his left to palm away a further worthy Lester shot on 41 minutes.

Jaaskelainen's first-half heroics were matched after the break by Dave Beasant, whose remarkable agility saw him keep out a close-in Hansen pile-driver.